Chord-forming attachment for stringed musical instrument



April 21, 1964 E. J. GRANIUS 3,

CHORD-FORMING ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 26, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ZNIL JGEANJUS AT TOENEY April 21, 1964 E. J. GRANIUS 3,129,626

CHORD-FORMING ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 26, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 1 g Tlu b 9 u mo E\ I Egzz. cfg'fi s .6 T TORNEY A ril 21, 1964 J. GRANIUS 3,129,625

CHORD-FORMING ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed NOV. 26, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. EMIL J GEHNIUS HTTOBN Y United States Patent 3,129,626 CI-IURD-FORMING ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Emil J. Granius, 1969 Tyler St., San Pablo, Calif. Filed Nov. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 240,102 6 Claims. (Cl. 84-317) The present invention relates to improvements in chordforming attachments for stringed musical instruments and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a chord-forming attachment for stringed musical instrumentsthat may be readily applied to the neck of an instrument such as a guitar. The device has keys which may be depressed selectively to form a desired chord when the strings of the instrument are manually vibrated. The device can be moved along the neck of the instrument into different predetermined positions and then secured in place and when thus moved, all of the keys when selectively depressed, will form different chords than that were formed when the device was in a different position on the instrument neck.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which is simple in construction and durable and efficient for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification continues. The novel features of the invention will be set forth in the appended claims.

Drawings For a better understanding of my invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings; forming part of this specification, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the device shown attached to the neck of a stringed instrument such as a guitar;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged horizontal section taken through the device substantially along the line 22 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the same scale as FIGURE 2 and is taken substantially along the line 1-':-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially along the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially along the line 55 of FIGURE 3 and shows one end of the casing that houses the chord-forming mechanisms;

FIGURE 6 is an isometric view showing a portion of the chord-forming mechanism;

FIGURE 7 is a schematic isometric view illustrating the parts of the-mechanism for forming two different chords by depressing two different keys; and

FIGURE 8 is an isometric View of the other end of the casing from that shown in FIGURE 5 and illustrates a capotasto secured to this end and being used for the purpose of raising the pitch of all of the strings of the instrument at once when the casing is shifted into another position on the instrument neck and secured in position.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the annexed claims Without departing from the spirit thereof.

Detailed Description In carrying out my invention I make use of a guitar or other stringed instrument and I show the neck of the instrument generally at A in FIGURE 1. The guitar neck has a plurality of metal strips or frets 1 extending transversely across the upper face thereof in spaced relation in the usual manner. Strings 2 extend longitudinally along the neck and are normally spaced above the frets 3,129,626 Patented Apr. 21, 1964 to be confined to this exact number because my device can be applied to other stringed instruments. The topmost fret on the neck of the instrument is termed a nut and this is shown at In in FIGURE 3. From the nut 1a the strings 2 contact it and then extend at an angle and are wound upon tuning pegs, not shown. The parts of the guitar thus far described are standard and my invention is applied to the neck of the guitar and is adjustable along the neck for obtaining different chord formations when certain keys of my device are depressed.

In FIGURES 1 to 5 inclusive, I show a box-like casing B that is designed to be clamped to the neck A of the guitar. In FIGURES 4 and 5, I show the box-like casing B provided with a hinged portion B that is hinged to the casing at 3. A fastening bolt C or other suitable fastening means is used for securing the hinged portion B in closed position to the main body of the casing after the hinged portion has been passed around the underside of the neck A of the guitar. Both FIGURES 4 and 5 show the hinged portion B as having openings 4 in its side, see also FIGURE 1. A clamp D is shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 and can be tightened against the underside of the instrument neck A after the casing B has been moved into place.

Referring to FIGURES 2, 3, 6 and 7, it will be seen that a plurality of sets of string-depressing members E are arranged in four groups W, X, Y and Z. For the guitar, I have found that four groups or sets of string-depressing members E can be used and there are eighteen members in each group making a total of seventy-two members. Again I do not wish to be confined to this exact number because one or more groups can be used depending upon the type of instrument being played and how many strings the operator wishes to depress to form various chords. A six-string chord on the guitar is many times essential and is very beautiful to listen to. It is almost impossible for the operator to play a six-string chord by the use of his fingers. An accomplished musician can do this, but with my device a simple depressing of a selected key will pro duce a desired six-string chord when the strings are vibrated.

FIGURE 7 illustrates schematically four of the stringdepressing members E and these four members will be received in the four sets of members W, X, Y and Z, illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3. The front member E in FIGURE 7 is L-shaped and the base portion 5 of the L extends vertically within the casing B. This is clearly shown in FIGURE 4. The casing B has two spaced apart vertical walls 6 and 7 and FIGURE 4 shows the base member 5 of the member E received between two rows of elongated rollers 8 and 9 that act as roller bearings between the side edges of the bases 5 and the vertical walls 6 and '7. In other words as the member E is depressed or raised, the base portion 5 will ride between the elongated roller bearings ii and 9 and these bearings will reduce the friction. The elongated roller bearings 8 and 9 are rotatably retained in place by liners 8 and 9 that have recesses 8a and 9a for receiving the roller bearings, see FIGURE 2. The recesses 8a and 9a also have shoulders 8b and 9b that contact with the outermost surfaces of the outer members E in each group W, X, Y and Z for holding all of the members in parallel relation while permitting relative vertical movement between any two adjacent members. It is possible to have narrow vertical guides, not shown, between adjacent members for spacing them slightly from each other.

Again referring to FIGURE 7 it will be seen that each member E not only has a base portion 5, but it also has a horizontal portion 10 which is used for depressing the proper string 2 when forming a chord. The front member E in FIGURE 7 has its horizontal portion 10 provided with a downwardly extending tab 11 on its underedge and in a position to engage with a flat spring 12 to move it downwardly against the string 2. In fact all six strings 2 of the instrument can have tabs 11 for depressing them through their associate flat springs 12 and these tabs are arranged in different positions along the horizontal portions of the members E. In FIGURE 7 the stringdepressing member E1 (which is the third one from the front of the figure) has its tab 11a arranged for depressing the flat spring 12 associated with another string 2.

Another member E2 has its tab 11b for depressing its fiat spring 12 and another member E3 has its horizontal arm 10 provided with three downwardly extending tabs 11c, spaced apart, and they are for depressing fiat springs 12 associated with three other strings 2. The spring-depressing member E, is placed in the left hand group of members X shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 while the members E1, E2 and E3 are placed in the groups X, Y and Z respectively. I will explain hereinafter how other stringdepressing members similar to the members E to E3 inclusive are placed in the groups W to Z inclusive for effecting different chord combinations.

I provide a plurality of keys for depressing the members E and FIGURE 7 illustrates a key F mounted on a lever G. The lever G extends the full length of the housing B, see FIGURE 2, and has links 13 pivotally connecting it to a supporting bar 14 that also extends substantially the entire length of the casing. FIGURE 7 illustrates how the key F can be depressed and this will depress the lever G which will swing downwardly on the links 13 and will move rearwardly in the casing B to a slight extent during this movement. The downward movement of the lever G, caused by the depressing of the key F will bring the lever into contact with notches 10a in the key-depressing members E associated with the lever and will depress these members. FIGURE 7 shows in isometric the positioning of the lever G above the members E and how the lever is supported by the flat springs 12 through the members E. The flat springs 12 are secured to cross bars 15, see FIGURE 3.

The levers G are arranged in three groups of six each as clearly shown in FIGURE 1 and further shown in FIF- URES 2 and 3. The keys F for these three groups are arranged in three diiferent levels as shown in FIGURE 1.

It will be noted from the isometric view of FIGURE 6 that the string-depressing member E has its tab 11 resting on the flat spring 12 that in turn is supported by the cross bar 15. The cross bar is also shown in FIGURE 3 and there is one cross bar provided for each of the four groups W, X, Y and Z of string-depressing members E. Each flat spring 12 is arranged above one of the strings 2 and there will therefore be six fiat springs 12 supported by each cross bar 15. On the underside of the lower portion of the flat spring 12, I provide a layer of sound deadening material 1211. FIGURE 3 shows that the depressed portions of the flat springs 12 are disposed near to the frets 1. In fact they are placed immediately to the right of the frets in this figure. Therefore when one of the flat springs 12 has its portion forced down upon the string 2 immediately positioned thereunder, this string will be brought into contact with the fret 1 disposed just to the left of the fiat spring and this fret then constitutes the temporary terminal end of the string. A strumming of the string will cause it to give off a different tone because theeffective length of the string has been changed.

In the illustration shown in FIGURE 7, a depressing of the key F will cause the spring-depressing members E (one in each of the four groups) to be depressed. The next to the rearmost member E3 has three tabs 11c and the flat springs 12 which in turn will depress three strings 2 and bring these into contact with the fret 1 positioned near the member. The member E2 in FIGURE 6 will have its tab 11b depress the flat spring 12, associated with another string 2. The eifective length of this string will be shortened because it will be brought into contact with the next fret 1 disposed to the left of the previously menclarity.

tioned fret. The member E1 in FIGURE 7 will have its tab 11a press on the fiat spring 12 associated with another string 2 and this string will be pressed down against the fret 1 that is disposed two frets to the left of the one associated with the member E3. The front member E will have its tab 11 press on its flat spring 12 for forcing its associate string 2 into contact with the fret 1 that is disposed three frets to the left of the one contacted through the movement of the member E3. This will result in a six note chord being sounded when all six strings are strummed by the player while the key F in FIGURE 6 is held depressed.

In actual practice the fiat springs 12 will tend to return to normal position when once the key F is freed by the operator. The fiat springs will be strong enough to lift the depressed members E when the key F is freed and the lifting of the depressed members will move the lever G that has been depressed, upwardly and will return the depressed key F to its normal position.

(I have explained how the depressing of one of the levers G will move certain string-depressing members E downwardly to depress certain strings 2 of the musical instrument downwardly and bring them into contact with certain frets 1 and thus a predetermined chord will be produced when the strings are vibrated by the player of the instrument. In FIGURES 6 and 7, '1 illustrate an additional string-depressing member H which will not be moved downwardly when the lever G is depressed. Another lever G is used for depressing the member H. In actual practice the lever G may depress one or more string-depressing members H when the lever is actuated. It is possible to have all eighteen of the levers depress from one to four string-depressing members, E, H, etc., each of these members being arranged in one or more of the four main groups W, X, Y and Z, of members illustrated in FIGURE 2.

In both FIGURES 6 and 7, I illustrate the other stringdepressing member H and this member is arranged in the first group W of members in FIGURE 7 and is spaced from the other members in this group for the purpose of In actual practice the string-depressing members E and H of each group can be arranged face to face so that adjacent faces will slidably contact with each other although it might be better to provide a slight space be-' tween adjacent members. The member H has a tab '16 that is spaced laterally from the tab 111 shown in the first member E in FIGURE 7. Furthermore the stringdepressing member H has its horizontal portion 17 provided with an upstanding projection 18 and this projection is disposed below the other lever G. When this lever G is depressed by its key F, it will contact with the upstanding projection 18 to move the string-depressing member H downwardly and cause its depending tab 16 to press downwardly on its associate flat spring 12x. The spring 12x in turn will press downwardly on a string 2a and move this string down into contact with an adjacent fret .1. It will be seen from this that the lever G will form a different chord by depressing one or more string-depressing members H in one or more of the four groups W-Z inclusive of members and this Will have no eifect'upon the other members which are held in their raised positions by their flat springs 12 yieldingly urging the tabs 11 upwardly. FIGURE 7 shows four members H, H1, H2 and H3 arranged near the members E-E3 respectively.

In FIGURE 7, I show a capotasto K that comprises a hand-operated cam 19 having an eccentric pivot 20 connecting it to a base plate 21 that in turn is attached to an end of the casing 13. The clamping member K, has a movable grip '22 that. has slots 23 therein. The base plate 21 has guide pins 24 slidably received in the slots. The hand operated cam 19 engages with a ledge 22a on the movable grip 22 and forces the grip down on the right hand side of a fret 1 after the housing B has been moved into a new position.

It is possible to adjust the housing B along the neck A of the instrument and then swing the clamping lever 19 to move the capotasto K down upon the strings 2. If the housing B is disposed at the top of the neck of the instrument, the string clamping member K, will not be forced down upon the top-most fret which is termed the nut 1a It is possible to release the capotasto K moving the housing B into a new location. The housing can be moved until the string clamping capotasto K is disposed adjacent to the second or third fret 1 from the topmost one on the neck of the instrument. The hand-operated cam 19 can then be actuated :for moving the string clamping member K down upon the strings 2 in its new position and this will raise the pitch of all of the strings. A depressing of any key F will produce a dilferent chord.

It is possible to free the housing 4 from the neck A of the instrument should the player desire to use the instrument in the usual manner. To accomplish this the bolt C is moved into released position and this will permit the under portion B of the housing to swing about its hinge 3 into open position. It is a simple matter to then free the housing from the neck of the instrument.

In FIGURES 4 and 5, I show the neck A of the instrument provided with longitudinally extending grooves 26 on the sides of the neck. The housing B has flanges 27 that are slidably received in the grooves. The purpose of the flanges riding in the grooves is to hold the housing in a certain position with respect to the instrument neck A so that the flat springs 12 and 12x will be disposed the proper distance above the strings 2. Furthermore the flanges 27 sliding in the grooves 26 will hold the casing in proper relation to the instrument neck while the casing is being moved into a new position.

In FIGURE 7, I show only two of the key actuated levers G and G out of the eighteen key levers illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 5 inclusive. Furthermore I have not indicated in FIGURE 7 the number of key levers that would lie between the two that are illustrated. This is for the purpose of clarity.

The key lever G in FIGURE 7 is shown depressed and it will have engaged with notches a in the-members E, E1, E2 and E3 and will have depressed these members for causing their depending tabs 11, 11a, 11b and 110 to depress their associate flat springs 12, the springs in turn when moved downwardly pressing on the instrument strings 2 and causing the strings to press against the adjacent frets 1 on the instrument neck A. The result is that a six note chord is formed by the depressing of the single lever G and this chord will be sounded when the strings are vibrated.

The other lever G shown in "FIGURE 7 is illustrated in raised or inoperative position. This lever will be resting upon upstanding projections .18, 18a, 18b and 180 which project upwardly from the horizontal arms 17 of the members H, H1, H2 and H3. The member H is similar to the member E and it is placed in the first group W, the only difference being that the member H has the upstanding projection I1 8 rather than the notch 10a and it has a downwardly extending tab 16 rather than the tab 11. The tab 16 is placed in a different position on the member H from the tab 11 on the member E. The other members H1, H2 and H3 are arranged in groups X, Y and Z, respectively, and have the upstanding propections 18a, 18b and 180 rather than the recesses 10a as provided on the members E1, E2 and E3.

It will be seen from FIGURE 7 that the flat spring 12x will yieldingly press upwardly on the tab 16 and hold the member H in raised or inoperative position. This will cause the projection 18 on the member H to hold the lever G in raised or inoperative position. The same is true with the member H1 where its depending tab 16a will contact its flat spring 12 which will yieldingly hold the member in raised position. The upstanding projection 18a on the member H1 will contact with the underside of the lever G and will aid in holding this lever in inoperative position. In-1ike manner the members H2 and H3 will have their upstanding projections 18b and aid in holding the lever G in raised or inoperative position. When thekey F for the lever G' is depressed it will cause all of the members H to H3 inclusive to be moved downwardly and to cause the flat springs 12 to press the strings 2 down upon the frets to form a new chord combination.

Each of the 18 levers G will be designed to operate one or more members E arranged in the groups W to Z inelusive and to form predetermined chord combinationswhen depressed. The upper edges of the horizontal portions 10 and 17 of the members E and H are arranged at a low enough elevation when the members are in raised position to permit any one of the eighteen levers to be moved downwardly and to actuate its associate members E without interfering with the other members E or H. The invention is relatively simple in construction and can produce chord combinations which are practically impossible to produce by hand.

In FIGURE 6, the member E is shown in depressed or lowered position and has pressed the flat spring 12 associated therewith downwardly. The member H is in its uppermost position. The vertical arrows between the dot-dash lines 30 and 31 representing upper and lower positions of the two members E and H indicate the extent of vertical movement. The fiat spring 12 has been swung downwardly by the tab 11. In FIGURE 7, the horizontal arms 10 of the members E, E1, E2 and E3 are in lowered position and their lower corners coincide with the dot-dash line 32. The other members H, H1, H2 and H3, are in raised or inoperative position and their upper left hand corners coincide with the dot-dash line 33. These dot-dash lines 32 and 33 again indicate the amount of vertical movement of the members E and H between their uppermost and lowermost positions.

The noise eliminating material 12a placed on the undersides of the flat springs 12, serves to protect the strings 2. The vibrating strings when contacted by the flat springs 12 are prevented from striking the metal itself forming the springs because the noise eliminating material 12a actually contacts the strings. This eliminates wear on the flat springs 12 and only the material 12a needs to be renewed from time to time.

I claim:

1. A device of the type described comprising:

(a) a housing adjustable along the neck of a stringed instrument;

(b) means for securing said housing to said neck in adjusted position;

(0) a plurality of levers having their greater portions enclosed within and extending along the length of said housing and having their ends projecting beyond an end of said housing and provided with keys;

(d) means within said housing for pivotally supporting said levers;

(e) a plurality of flat springs carried by said housing and spaced above the strings of the instrument and positioned so as to lie adjacent to the side of the frets on the instrument neck facing toward the tuning end of the neck when said housing is secured to said neck in a predetermined position;

(f) a plurality of spring-depressing members having downwardly extending tabs arranged in a predetermined order for forming chord combinations and resting on said flat springs; said flat springs normally holding said spring-depressing members in raised position;

(g) said spring-depressing members having upwardly extending projections arranged in a predetermined order for providing different chord combinations, said projections being positioned under certain levers so as to be contacted thereby when said levers are manually depressed;

(h) whereby a manual depressing of a selected lever will move downwardly the one or more spring-depressing members whose upwardly extending projections are in contact with the lever and will cause the tabs of these members to depress the flat springs contacted by them and to press the strings associated with the depressed flat springs at the same distance from and down upon the adjacent frets for varying the effective lengths of the strings contacted by said flat springs.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, and in which (a) said flat springs are arranged in groups, each group being associated with a single fret on the instrument neck, there being as many flat springs in the group as there are strings for the instrument; and

(b) said spring-depressing members also being arranged in groups, there being as many groups of spring-depressing members as there are groups of flat springs.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 and in which (a) said spring-depressing members are L-shaped with the base portion of the L paralleling one of the side walls of said housing; and

(b) roller bearings arranged on opposite sides of the base portions of the spring-depressing members for aiding in guiding said members in their movement.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1, and in which (a) said housing has a lower hinged portion adapted to extend under the neck of the instrument when said housing is mounted on the neck;

(b) a catch for securing said hinged portion in closed position; a

(c) a clamp carried by said hinged portion and engageable with the underside of the instrument neck;

(d) the instrument neck being provided with longitudinally extending grooves disposed on opposite sides of the neck; and

(e) said housing having flanges slidably received in the grooves for holding said housing against movement toward or away from the neck.

5. In a device of the type described comprising:

(a) a housing securable to theneck of a stringed instrument;

(b) a plurality of levers having their greater portions enclosed within and extending along the length of O in said housing and having their ends projecting beyond an end of said housing and provided with keys;

(0) a plurality of flat springs carried by said housing and spaced above the strings of the instrument in a group and positioned so that the ends of the springs will contact with the strings at points adjacent to a fret on the instrument'neck and on the side of the fret facing toward the tuning end of the neck when said springs are depressed;

(d) a plurality ofspring-depressing members arranged in a group and extending transversely across the neck of the instrument, said group of spring-depressing members being disposed above said group of flat springs;

(e) each spring-depressing member having at least one downwardly extending tab arranged in a predetermined position for contacting with a certain flat p (7) each spring-depressing member having at least one upwardly extending projection arranged in a predetermined order and positioned under certain of said levers so as to be contacted thereby when said levers are manually depressed;

(g) whereby a manual depressing of a selected lever will move downwardly the one or more spring-depressing members whose upwardly extending projections are in contact with the lever and will cause the tabs of these members to depress the flat springs contacted by them and to press the strings associated with the depressed flat springs at points adjacent to the fret for moving the strings against the fret for varying the elfective lengths of the strings contacted by said flat springs and forming a desired full dimensional musical chord when the strings are vibrated.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5: and in which (a) said spring-depressing members are L-shaped and have depending portions with parallel edges; and

(b) roller bearings arranged on opposite sides of said depending portions and contacting with said parallel edges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 545,963 Ling Sept. 10, 1895 928,866 Hull July 20, 1909 FOREIGN PATENTS 630,365 Germany a May 7, 1936 

1. A DEVICE OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED COMPRISING: (A) A HOUSING ADJUSTABLE ALONG THE NECK OF A STRINGED INSTRUMENT; (B) MEANS FOR SECURING SAID HOUSING TO SAID NECK IN ADJUSTED POSITION; (C) A PLURALITY OF LEVERS HAVING THEIR GREATER PORTIONS ENCLOSED WITHIN AND EXTENDING ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID HOUSING AND HAVING THEIR ENDS PROJECTING BEYOND AN END OF SAID HOUSING AND PROVIDED WITH KEYS; (D) MEANS WITHIN SAID HOUSING FOR PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING SAID LEVERS; (E) A PLURALITY OF FLAT SPRINGS CARRIED BY SAID HOUSING AND SPACED ABOVE THE STRINGS OF THE INSTRUMENT AND POSITIONED SO AS TO LIE ADJACENT TO THE SIDE OF THE FRETS ON THE INSTRUMENT NECK FACING TOWARD THE TUNING END OF THE NECK WHEN SAID HOUSING IS SECURED TO SAID NECK IN A PREDETERMINED POSITION; 